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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A Massachusetts man faces has pleaded guilty to threatening an interracial couple on Facebook and attempting to prevent them from reporting the threats to police, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts announced Wednesday.
Stephen M. DeBerardinis, 46, of Boston and Dedham faces up to 28 years in prison and $750 thousand in fines on three charges.
“You can’t just threaten people online with racially motivated, violent physical harm and not face repercussions,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Boston Jodi Cohen in the press release.
In December, 2020, a white woman and a Black man announced their engagement on Facebook, now known as Meta.
In early January, 2021, DeBerardinis used Facebook Messenger to send the couple profanity-laced, racist and threatening messages, according to the press release.
DeBerardinis had no personal connection to the couple.
A judge scheduled his sentencing for June 10, 2024.
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